EXSC 410 EXAM 2 USC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Cognitive Function - Answer -the process whereby an individual is able to perceive,
recognize and understand thoughts and ideas
- concentrating
- language
- self regulation
Normal Changes in Cognitive Function with Age - Answer -- Slower behavior and
reaction time
- attention, language, thinking and planning processes disrupted
- memory processes disrupted
* recent memory, spatial memory and memory of faces
Normal Anatomical Changes with Age - Answer -- Frontal and Temporal lobe atrophy
* loss of dendrites, and synapses NOT neurons
- Brain weight decreases
* gray and white matter loss
* ventricles increase
Normal Age-Related Changes - Answer -- making a bad decision once in a while
- missing a monthly payment
- sometimes forgetting which word to use
Sign's of Dementia - Answer -- poor judgement
- inability to manage a budget
- losing track of the date or the season
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) - Answer -- most common form of dementia
* loss of cognitive function and behavioral abilities
- prodromal phase known as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
- Symptoms arise in the late 60's
- Irreversible & progressive neurodegenerative disease
- 6th leading cause of death in American >65 yrs
Hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease - Answer -- beta amyloid plaques
- tau neurofibrillary tangles
- cell death (atrophy)
- acetylcholine deficits
William Utermohlen: Art and Alzheimer's Disease - Answer -The artist was diagnosed
with Alzheimer's Disease in 1995 and spent 12 years trying to understand the disease
by painting self portraits; clearly showing his cognitive decline
,Longitudinal Study: Rolland 2008 - Answer -20 of 24 studies showed significant
protective effect of PA against cognitive decline or dementia
Longitudinal Study: Bowen 2012 - Answer -Older adults reporting greater vigorous
housework in previous 3-7 years had lower risk of dementia
Longitudinal Study: Buchman 2012 - Answer -Higher levels of PA measured with
actigraph for 10 days associated with reduced Alzheimer's Disease risk ( 4 year
average follow up)
Intervention Study: Lautneschlager 2008 - Answer -138 older adults with MCI or
memory complaints randomized to 6 months self-directed PA program
Intervention Study: Baker 2010 - Answer -6 months aerobic exercise (vs. stretching
control) improved executive function but not declarative memory in OA's with MCI
Intervention Study: Winchester 2013 - Answer -1 year regular walking (vs. sedentary
control) led to attenuations in global cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate
Alzheimer's Disease
Exercise Post Stroke - Answer -- 38 stroke survivors = 8 weeks of aerobic exercise 3
times a week for 45 minutes
- Motor learning improved in affected and unaffected sides
- information processing speed improved
task accuracy improved
Standard Population - Answer -- 101 under-active or sedentary individuals without
cognitive impairment
- 4 groups: No-change control, 75, 150, 225 minutes per week of MI aerobic exercise for
26 weeks
- Simple attention improved across all exercise groups
- Dose-response relationship with Visuospatial Processing
- Greater Fitness Improvements = Greater cognitive gains
Does exercise improve cognitive function? - Answer -- Yes, but the effect is small
- when accumulated over weeks and months, large positive effect
Neuroplasticity - Answer -the brain's ability to adapt to a changing environment and
remodel itself throughout the lifespan
Neurogenesis - Answer -birth of new neurons in the adult hippocampus
- down-regulated in advanced age
Synaptic Plasticity - Answer -exercise can make existing synapses STRONGER and
help build MORE synapses
, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) - Answer -Key growth factor; plays a role in
both synaptic plasticity AND neurogenesis
Improved Peripheral Metabolic Functioning - Answer -Exercise improves body
composition, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, blood lipid levels,
less inflammation/oxidative stress
-brain and body impact each other
School-Based Physical Education Studies - Answer -Increased time spent in PE
appears to have a positive relationship or no relationship with academics, NOT a
negative relationship
Recess Studies - Answer -time spent in recess appears to have a positive relationship
or no relationship with attention, concentration and/or on-task classroom behaviors
Classroom Physical Activity Studies - Answer -Postive Associations
Extracurricular Physical Activity Studies - Answer -Positive or Neutral Associations
Academics and Physical Activity - Answer -- general positive association
- more fit = better academic performance
Which part of the brain benefits the most from exercise? - Answer -improved
neuroplasticity
Executive Functioning - Answer -processes that control cognitive functions toward goal-
oriented behavior
- scheduling
- planning
- multi tasking
Supported largely by prefrontal cortex
Components of Executive Functioning - Answer -- Flexibility (shifting)
- Working memory (monitoring and updating)
- Inhibition (of distractions, of impulses)
Flexibility - Answer -- ability to change perspectives
- think outside the box
- admit you're wrong
- take advantage of sudden opportunities
Working Memory - Answer -- holding information in mind and being able to work with it
- important for-
* linguistics
* understanding cause and effect
* understanding concepts
Cognitive Function - Answer -the process whereby an individual is able to perceive,
recognize and understand thoughts and ideas
- concentrating
- language
- self regulation
Normal Changes in Cognitive Function with Age - Answer -- Slower behavior and
reaction time
- attention, language, thinking and planning processes disrupted
- memory processes disrupted
* recent memory, spatial memory and memory of faces
Normal Anatomical Changes with Age - Answer -- Frontal and Temporal lobe atrophy
* loss of dendrites, and synapses NOT neurons
- Brain weight decreases
* gray and white matter loss
* ventricles increase
Normal Age-Related Changes - Answer -- making a bad decision once in a while
- missing a monthly payment
- sometimes forgetting which word to use
Sign's of Dementia - Answer -- poor judgement
- inability to manage a budget
- losing track of the date or the season
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) - Answer -- most common form of dementia
* loss of cognitive function and behavioral abilities
- prodromal phase known as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
- Symptoms arise in the late 60's
- Irreversible & progressive neurodegenerative disease
- 6th leading cause of death in American >65 yrs
Hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease - Answer -- beta amyloid plaques
- tau neurofibrillary tangles
- cell death (atrophy)
- acetylcholine deficits
William Utermohlen: Art and Alzheimer's Disease - Answer -The artist was diagnosed
with Alzheimer's Disease in 1995 and spent 12 years trying to understand the disease
by painting self portraits; clearly showing his cognitive decline
,Longitudinal Study: Rolland 2008 - Answer -20 of 24 studies showed significant
protective effect of PA against cognitive decline or dementia
Longitudinal Study: Bowen 2012 - Answer -Older adults reporting greater vigorous
housework in previous 3-7 years had lower risk of dementia
Longitudinal Study: Buchman 2012 - Answer -Higher levels of PA measured with
actigraph for 10 days associated with reduced Alzheimer's Disease risk ( 4 year
average follow up)
Intervention Study: Lautneschlager 2008 - Answer -138 older adults with MCI or
memory complaints randomized to 6 months self-directed PA program
Intervention Study: Baker 2010 - Answer -6 months aerobic exercise (vs. stretching
control) improved executive function but not declarative memory in OA's with MCI
Intervention Study: Winchester 2013 - Answer -1 year regular walking (vs. sedentary
control) led to attenuations in global cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate
Alzheimer's Disease
Exercise Post Stroke - Answer -- 38 stroke survivors = 8 weeks of aerobic exercise 3
times a week for 45 minutes
- Motor learning improved in affected and unaffected sides
- information processing speed improved
task accuracy improved
Standard Population - Answer -- 101 under-active or sedentary individuals without
cognitive impairment
- 4 groups: No-change control, 75, 150, 225 minutes per week of MI aerobic exercise for
26 weeks
- Simple attention improved across all exercise groups
- Dose-response relationship with Visuospatial Processing
- Greater Fitness Improvements = Greater cognitive gains
Does exercise improve cognitive function? - Answer -- Yes, but the effect is small
- when accumulated over weeks and months, large positive effect
Neuroplasticity - Answer -the brain's ability to adapt to a changing environment and
remodel itself throughout the lifespan
Neurogenesis - Answer -birth of new neurons in the adult hippocampus
- down-regulated in advanced age
Synaptic Plasticity - Answer -exercise can make existing synapses STRONGER and
help build MORE synapses
, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) - Answer -Key growth factor; plays a role in
both synaptic plasticity AND neurogenesis
Improved Peripheral Metabolic Functioning - Answer -Exercise improves body
composition, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, blood lipid levels,
less inflammation/oxidative stress
-brain and body impact each other
School-Based Physical Education Studies - Answer -Increased time spent in PE
appears to have a positive relationship or no relationship with academics, NOT a
negative relationship
Recess Studies - Answer -time spent in recess appears to have a positive relationship
or no relationship with attention, concentration and/or on-task classroom behaviors
Classroom Physical Activity Studies - Answer -Postive Associations
Extracurricular Physical Activity Studies - Answer -Positive or Neutral Associations
Academics and Physical Activity - Answer -- general positive association
- more fit = better academic performance
Which part of the brain benefits the most from exercise? - Answer -improved
neuroplasticity
Executive Functioning - Answer -processes that control cognitive functions toward goal-
oriented behavior
- scheduling
- planning
- multi tasking
Supported largely by prefrontal cortex
Components of Executive Functioning - Answer -- Flexibility (shifting)
- Working memory (monitoring and updating)
- Inhibition (of distractions, of impulses)
Flexibility - Answer -- ability to change perspectives
- think outside the box
- admit you're wrong
- take advantage of sudden opportunities
Working Memory - Answer -- holding information in mind and being able to work with it
- important for-
* linguistics
* understanding cause and effect
* understanding concepts
